Dr. Dana Hawkinson is an infectious disease physician at The University of Kansas Health System. He says ticks can carry all kinds of communicable diseases, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Ehrlichia. In the video, he says the biggest misconception we have about ticks in the Midwest is they carry Lyme disease. It’s common in the Northeast United States, but not here. He also talks about the symptoms of tick-borne illnesses, and how to know when to see your doctor.

Dr. Hawkinson says there are two recently-discovered diseases thought to be brought on by ticks: the Heartland Virus, discovered near St. Joseph, Missouri and The Bourbon Virus, named after Bourbon County, Kansas, home to the patient who contracted it. Both can be very serious if not treated in time. The Bourbon Virus patient did not survive the illness. Dr. Hawkinson also describes the best ways to protect yourself and your family from tick bites.

Also included is b-roll of various outdoor hiking and walking areas, tall grass and woods where ticks are likely to be found.